WoeUSB is a powerful and user-friendly application designed to help users create bootable Windows installation USB drives from ISO files or CDs/DVDs on Linux systems. This open-source tool, previously known as WinUSB, has become increasingly popular among Linux users who need to create Windows installation media.
Key Features:
The upcoming guide will demonstrate how to install WoeUSB on Linux Mint 21 or Linux Mint 20 using a third-party Launchpad PPA that has maintained WoeUSB for a long time and continues to do so.
Before proceeding with the tutorial, ensuring your system is up-to-date with all existing packages is essential. This will help prevent any potential issues during the installation process.
After updating the package list, proceed to upgrade any outdated packages using the following command:
The recommended way to install WoeUSB on Linux Mint is using the Launchpad PPA maintained by tomtomtom. This will enable you to utilize the APT package manager for a smooth installation experience. Be sure to match the command to the version of Linux Mint you are using; otherwise, the installation might fail with errors.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomtomtom/woeusb -y
Before you continue, run an APT update to synchronize the package list with the newly imported PPA:
If you prefer a headless installation, you can now install WoeUSB using either the GUI method or the CLI version.
To install WoeUSB along with its graphical user interface, execute the following command:
sudo apt install woeusb woeusb-frontend-wxgtk
For users who prefer a command-line interface, you can install WoeUSB without the GUI by running this command:
Now that you have WoeUSB installed on your system, you can launch it using different methods, depending on your preferences and needs.
WoeUSB can be used in a headless server environment or a desktop terminal, provided you have the necessary hardware, such as a USB device, connected to your system. To access the help menu and learn about available commands, enter the following command in the terminal:
The help menu lists straightforward commands for using WoeUSB in the terminal.
If you prefer using the graphical user interface (GUI) for WoeUSB, you can launch it using the command below:
Alternatively, most desktop users may prefer to open WoeUSB by clicking the application icon. You can find the WoeUSB icon by following this path:
Taskbar > Administration > WoeUSB
Example of WoeUSB application icon on the taskbar with Linux Mint:
This section will explore various tips, customizations, and general advice on using the WoeUSB GUI on Linux Mint. Following these recommendations, you can make the most out of your WoeUSB experience.
By following these tips and making the necessary customizations, you can successfully create a bootable Windows installation USB drive using the WoeUSB GUI on Linux Mint.
Example of WoeUSB on Linux Mint desktop:
In this section, we will briefly overview the WoeUSB CLI (Command Line Interface) and discuss some basic commands, along with examples and explanations. This will help you effectively use the WoeUSB CLI to create bootable Windows installation USB drives on your Linux Mint system.
Display help: To see a list of available commands and options, use the -h or —help flag. This will display a help menu that provides guidance on using the WoeUSB
Create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file: To create a bootable USB drive using a Windows ISO file, use the —device flag, followed by the source ISO file and the target USB device. Replace /path/to/windows.iso with the actual path to your Windows ISO file and /dev/sdx with the appropriate device identifier for your USB drive.
sudo woeusb --device /path/to/windows.iso /dev/sdx
For example, if your Windows ISO file is located at /home/user/Downloads/windows10.iso and your USB drive is /dev/sdb , the command would be:
sudo woeusb --device /home/user/Downloads/windows10.iso /dev/sdb
Create a bootable USB drive from a physical CD/DVD: If you have a physical Windows installation CD/DVD, you can use the —cdrom flag followed by the device identifier of your CD/DVD drive and the target USB device. Replace /dev/sr0 with the appropriate device identifier for your CD/DVD drive and /dev/sdx with the correct identifier for your USB drive.
sudo woeusb --cdrom /dev/sr0 --device /dev/sdx
Unmount the target USB drive: Before using WoeUSB, ensure that the target USB drive is unmounted. You can unmount the USB drive using the umount command followed by the device identifier. Replace /dev/sdx1 with the appropriate partition identifier for your USB drive.
To ensure your WoeUSB installation is up-to-date, open the command line terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt upgrade
This command will update WoeUSB and ensure all other packages that use the APT package manager, including your system packages, are up-to-date. For users new to Linux, it is recommended to run this command frequently to maintain your system’s optimal performance, even if you have automatic GUI updates or notifications enabled.
If you no longer require WoeUSB, use one of the following commands, depending on your original installation method:
sudo apt autoremove woeusb woeusb-frontend-wxgtk -y
Afterward, if you do not plan to use WoeUSB again, remove the PPA with the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:tomtomtom/woeusb -y
In this guide, we have covered the process of installing WoeUSB on Linux Mint 21 and Linux Mint 20 using a trusted third-party Launchpad PPA. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully create bootable Windows installation USB drives on your Linux Mint system, using either the graphical user interface or the command line interface.
Here are some additional resources and official links that can help you learn more about WoeUSB and its usage: